Gordon Platt, Author at Global Finance Magazine

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Emerging & Frontier Markets

Middle East 2012: Dubai’s Debt Dependency

EASING THE BURDEN By Gordon Platt Dubai has some way to go before its debt profile is viewed as safe and sound, but it has already made great strides. The Dubai debt crisis shocked the world in ...

Emerging & Frontier Markets

Middle East 2012: Economies In Transition

SHIFTING SANDS By Gordon Platt Extraordinary changes are occurring in the Middle East in the aftermath of the Arab Spring uprisings. New economic models—and new opportunities for foreign investors—are developing. But the potential for great reward comes with ...

Banking

Middle East 2012: GCC Banking And Investment

ABUNDANT FLOWS By Gordon Platt The oil and gas sector is leading an investment explosion in the region, particularly in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Photo Credit: PAUL COWAN / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM Led by Saudi Arabia and Qatar, the ...

Banking

Middle East 2012: Levantine Banks

THE LEVANT BANKS ON STABILITY By Gordon Platt Caution and conservative growth are the key goals of Levantine economies. The resource-poor countries of the Levant have been trying to promote open markets, free trade and labor mobility ...

Emerging & Frontier Markets

Company To Watch: Zambeef Products / Zambia

EXPANDING PRODUCT LINES AT ZAMBEEF By Gordon Platt Zambeef Products of Zambia is one of the largest agribusinesses in Africa, with more than 4,000 employees. In June 2011, it became the first Zambian company to list on the London ...

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

Debt: Low Rates, Economy Boost Issuance

CORPORATE FINANCING NEWS: CORPORATE DEBT By Gordon Platt Easing monetary conditions and economic stabilization have increased demand for higher-risk assets, despite worries about Europe's debt. The Federal Reserve has pledged that the federal funds rate will remain ...

Emerging & Frontier Markets

DR News: Bancolombia Sells Follow-On ADRs

EMERGING MARKETS INVESTOR: DR NEWS By Gordon Platt Bancolombia sold $267 million in ADRs in January in a follow-on offering to its domestic sale of $614 million in preferred shares. The bank said proceeds would go to lending and ...

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

DRs: Awaiting Facebook, IPOs Revive

CORPORATE FINANCING NEWS: GLOBAL EQUITY / DRS By Gordon Platt The US market for initial public offerings is off to a strong start in 2012, with anticipation building ahead of the expected $5 billion Facebook IPO, which will ...

Emerging & Frontier Markets

EM News: Equity Funds Attract Big Inflows

EMERGING MARKETS INVESTOR: NEWS By Gordon Platt Investors dumped money market funds in January and shifted into higher-yielding equity funds, according to EPFR Global. "The emerging-markets equity funds we track have had their best start in six ...

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

FX: Sudden Currency Moves And Hedging

CORPORATE FINANCING NEWS: FOREIGN EXCHANGE By Gordon Platt The euro’s surprising rise early this year, even as the European Central...

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

M&A: Xstrata Investors Balk At Merger

CORPORATE FINANCING NEWS: MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS By Gordon Platt Mining company Xstrata's merger with commodities dealer Glencore may not go ahead unless the terms are improved for shareholders. The $90 billion deal, billed as a "merger of equals," is ...

Banking

Middle East Investment Banking

CLOUDY OUTLOOK By Gordon Platt The global economic slowdown and regional political turmoil are casting a pall over investment banking in the Middle East. As there's no change in sight, bankers in the region may be in for ...